How to Repurpose Your Halloween Costume

Welcome to November. It’s officially the holiday season and, as we look back on the past few weeks (or even months!) that we spent putting together that epic Halloween costume, we can’t quite believe we have to box it all up already, possibly never to be worn again. But this year, we might just have a solution to that sartorial conundrum. We’re re-purposing our Halloween looks and pulling out some of our favorite pieces from the best costumes of the weekend to continue wearing all fall and winter long. And no, it’s not just about continuing to wear those fishnet tights you channeled The Rocky Horror Picture Show in, though it’s a fashion choice we fully support. Instead, we’re keeping those catlike bodysuits, Clueless plaids, Factory Girl sequins and more in constant rotation. Here’s how you can do it, too.

Clueless

So you dressed up as Cher and Di with your bestie, clad in yellow or black plaid head-to-toe. But how are you going to keep those pieces in rotation without looking exactly like Alicia Silverstone on the big screen? Separate the pieces and mix them up with some basics. Colorful plaids are a huge runway trend for the season, so you’ll be one step ahead of the crew with your post-Halloween look.

Black Cat

Sure, the ears and tail might go into storage; the black nose and whiskers wiped off your face; but that unitard was just too good not to want to keep wearing in real life. While you could always channel a Kardashian or Jenner, slipping into that one-piece and calling it a day, we’re all about the layering this fall. Grab a super sheer dress or tunic, layering it on top for added dimension. The unitard will solve the problem of a slip or more covered lingerie—and you’ll look killer, too!

Cowgirl

You went all out on All Hallow’s Eve. In jeans, cowboy boots, a western shirt, and all the fringed suede you could muster up, you were ready for the rodeo. But now that the costume-clad holiday is over, you can’t stop thinking about how your look really also looked a lot like the Calvin Klein runway. And DSquared2. And Isabel Marant. In fact, nearly every single piece in your costume will easily find a comfortable home in the real-life wardrobe you’ve been building for fall.

Leopard

Taking your cat look one step further, you really leaned in to the animal print trend. You layered a leopard print catsuit under a cozy leopard print knit then threw on a faux-fur coat in — you guessed it — leopard print. Lucky for you, leopard is one of the top trends for fall, whether worn on your head, your feet, or somewhere in between. Re-purpose nearly every item from that costume of yours this season, wearing all your leopard-printed items to your heart’s content…just maybe not all at the exact same time.

French Girl

Baguette in hand, you embraced French levels of chic for one night only. Lucky for you, it’s a real-life look that you most certainly don’t have to give up now that Halloween is over. So that you don’t look like you’re trying too hard (because who wants that!), consider breaking up the look, wearing your stripes with, well, everything. As for your beret, pair it with an understated outfit that makes it feel as though you casually picked up a winter styling tip on your last trip to the City of Lights.

Factory Girl

Edie Sedgwick might have gone all-out when it came to her look, as did you when you emulated your favorite '60s style icon for Halloween. But now, even though you’re toning it down for the real world, you’re still taking with you a few of her tips and tricks for looking stunning — day or night — as you enter the holiday season. Your favorite ones? Sequins and faux fur.

Riverdale

As one of the characters of Riverdale, trick-or-treating with your besties, you were surprised at quite how much you loved the retro style of your look. With a midi skirt, cardigan sweater belted at the waist, you feel the need to keep at least some of that look going strong for the next few months, costume or not. Mix your grandmother’s favorites with some more retro or sporty pieces for an effortless cool-girl vibe that feels very now.

Who doesn’t love wearing black…all the time? The DIY Halloween costume you fashioned from some of your favorite ebony pieces can slip right back into rotation without batting an eyelash. We’re particular fans of Wednesday’s classic collared dress, so it’s definitely a girly-meets-goth piece we’re going to be wearing long after All Hallow’s Eve has passed.